News

Rick Scott Turns His Back On 41,000 Veterans

Posted June 6, 2014

As Rick Scott tours the state for his reelection, how can he look Florida’s veterans in the eye?

This year, Rick Scott has refused to even discuss expanding access to health care. Democrats filed bills to make the expansion happen, and he ignored them. And 41,000 veterans are left out in the cold.

Rick Scott is talking a lot about veterans health care these days. After the the news of problems at the VA, Rick Scott hasn’t missed a chance to bash the federal government and demand better care for our veterans.

But while Rick Scott pays lip service to those who have served, 41,000 veterans in his own back yard don't have access to Medicaid because Florida won't expand the program.

All Americans agree that our veterans deserve nothing but the best. Anyone who has worn our country’s uniform deserves access to quality health care. So why is Rick Scott still refusing to take action and expand access to health care, denying health care to thousands of the veterans he says he’s fighting for?

Background:

Urban Institute: 41,200 Uninsured Florida Veterans Would Qualify For Medicaid If Florida Expanded The Program Under The Affordable Care Act. According to Politifact, “In tweeting his attack, Crist linked to a March 2013 nationwide study by the Washington-based Urban Institute. The study analyzed U.S. Census Bureau data to estimate how many military veterans aged 19 to 64 don’t have insurance. (Veterans 65 and older qualify, like other Americans, for Medicare.) The study found that 535,000 uninsured veterans nationwide would qualify for Medicaid or new subsidies under the Affordable Care Act. However, the majority would only qualify for Medicaid if their state chose to expand it. The institute’s report said in Florida there were 103,700 non-elderly veterans who lacked health insurance, which included 41,200 who would qualify for Medicaid if the state expanded the program.” [Politifact, 5/23/14]